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Oakey/Dokey

Posted by SR on October 05, 2004

In Reply to: Oakey/Dokey posted by Word Camel on October 05, 2004

: : : : : : : : : : : Lena Horne uses the line "I'm broke, That's oak" in her version of "That's Why the Lady is a Tramp".

: : : : : : : : : : : Is to say something is oak a real expression or poetic license?

: : : : : : : : : : I'm broke, that's oke (okay).

: : : : : : : : : Intersting.

: : : : : : : : Are you skptical of my interprtation? Well, why not? SS

: : : : : : :
: : : : : : : I'm utterly sincere and not skeptical at all. I'd have never thought to interpret it that way. But it wouldn't be the first time spelling has led me astray. I was guessing "oak", possibly as in solid or for sure, but I'd never heard the expression. Did you find the lyric somewhere?

: : : : : : Nah.

: : : : :
: : : : : It is (or was) presumably a new coining because something had to be found which rhymed with 'broke'.

: : : : : DFG

: : : : Those are the lyrics as written.

: : : I imagine that the spelling is to avoid any doubt about the pronunciation. The song is intended to be performed - when you hear a song, you can't tell how the words are spelled!

: :
: : Frank-Sinatra's Lyrics - Lady Is a Tramp Lyrics
: : Writer(s): rodgers/hart

: : She gets too hungry, for dinner at eight
: : She loves the theater, but doesn't come late
: : She'd never bother, with people she'd hate
: : That's why the lady is a tramp

: : Doesn't like crap games, with barons and earls
: : Won't go to harlem, in ermine and pearls
: : Won't dish the dirt, with the rest of those girls
: : That's why the lady is a tramp

: : She loves the free, fresh wind in her hair
: : Life without care
: : She's broke, but it's o'k
: : She hates california, it's cold and it's damp
: : That's why the lady is a tramp

: : Doesn't like dice games, with sharpies and frauds
: : Won't go to harlem, in lincolns or fords
: : Won't dish the dirt, with the rest of those broads
: : That's why the lady is a tramp
: :

:
: I'm impressed you found the lyrics. I couldn't find them. I've notices the lyric can vary a bit depending on who is performing. I have Lena, Mel and Frank and I'd almost swear each is a little different. Sadly the words aren't written down.

Note the difference between the Sinatra version and the Fitzgerald lyrics. The queried line is still 'okay.'

Track Title: The Lady Is A Tramp
Album Title: Rodgers and Hart Songbook, disc 3

Prime Artist: Ella Fitzgerald
Lyrics by: Lorenz Hart
Music by: Richard Rodgers
Producer: Norman Granz

From the Show: Babes In Arms 1937 (S) 1939 (M)
Lyrics:
I've wined and dined on Mulligan Stew, and never wished for Turkey
As I hitched and hiked and grifted too, from Maine to Albuquerque
Alas, I missed the Beaux Arts Ball, and what is twice as sad
I was never at a party where they honored Noel Ca-ad (Coward)
But social circles spin too fast for me
My "hobohemia" is the place to be

I get too hungry, for dinner at eight
I like the theater, but never come late
I never bother, with people I hate
That's why the lady is a tramp

I don't like crap games, with barons and earls
Won't go to Harlem, in ermine and pearls
Won't dish the dirt, with the rest of the girls
That's why the lady is a tramp

I like the free, fresh wind in her hair
Life without care
I'm broke, it's o'k
Hate California, it's cold and it's damp
That's why the lady is a tramp

I go to Coney, the beach is devine
I go to ballgames, the bleachers are fine
I find a Winchell, and read every line
That's why the lady is a tramp

I like a prizefight, that isn't a fake
I love the rowing, on Central Park lake
I go to Opera and stay wide awake
That's why the lady is a tramp

I like the green grass under my shoes
What can I lose, I'm flat, that's that
I'm alone when I lower my lamp
That's why the lady is a tramp

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